[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 55 (Thursday, March 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14956-14957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5602]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.: Notice of Intent To Hold 
Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Hold Public Scoping Meeting and Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an Agency delivering the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, hereinafter referred to as Rural Development and/or 
the Agency, intends to hold a public scoping meeting and prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts 
related to a project being proposed by Basin Electric Power

[[Page 14957]]

Cooperative, Inc. (Basin Electric), of Bismarck, North Dakota. The 
proposal for construction and operation of a wind turbine generation 
facility referred to as the PrairieWinds-ND1 Project (Project), 
consists of a 77-turbine, 115 megawatt (MW) facility at a site near 
Minot, North Dakota.

DATES: Rural Development will conduct the public scoping meeting in an 
open-house format in order to provide information and solicit comments 
for the preparation of an EA. The meeting will be held on April 3, 
2008, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Central Daylight Time, North Central 
Research Extension Center, 5400 Highway 83 South, Minot, North Dakota 
(approximately 1 mile south of Minot on U.S. Highway 83).

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the EA, or for further information, 
contact: Barbara Britton, Environmental Protection Specialist, Water 
and Environmental Programs, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250-1571, 
telephone: (202) 720-1414 or e-mail: [email protected], or 
Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East 
Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503-0564, telephone: (701) 355-5495 
or e-mail: [email protected]. A proposal development document--
Alternative Evaluation and Site Selection Study--is available for 
public review at Rural Development or Basin Electric, at the addresses 
provided in this notice, and at the Minot Public Library, 516 2nd Ave., 
SW., Minot, North Dakota 58701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Basin Electric proposes to construct a new 
115 MW wind generation facility in north-central North Dakota. The 
Project would include seventy-seven (77) 1.5 MW wind turbine 
generators. A wind resource assessment study conducted in the area 
projects a net capacity factor in the upper thirty percent range. Power 
from the facility would be supplied to Basin Electric's customers 
through an interconnection with the Integrated System (IS), of which 
the Western Area Power Administration (Western) is the control area 
operator. Western is a federal power marketing agency with the U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE). Western is being requested to participate 
as a cooperating agency in the Environmental Assessment. Basin Electric 
is requesting Rural Development to provide financing for the proposed 
project.
    Alternatives to be considered by the Agency include no action, 
purchased power, load management, other renewable energy sources, and 
alternative site locations. Questions and comments regarding the 
proposed project should be received by Rural Development in writing by 
May 3, 2008, to ensure that they are considered in this environmental 
impact determination.
    From information provided in the study mentioned above, and using 
input provided by government agencies, private organizations, and the 
public, Rural Development will prepare the EA. The EA will be available 
for review and comment for 30 days after distribution. Following the 
30-day comment period, Rural Development will prepare either a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS). Notices announcing the availability of the EA and a FONSI, as 
appropriate, will be published in the Federal Register and in local 
newspapers.
    Any final action by the Agency related to the proposed projects 
will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant 
Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations and 
completion of the environmental review requirements as prescribed in 
the USDA Rural Utilities Service Environmental Policies and Procedures 
(7 CFR part 1794).

    Dated: March 13, 2008.
Mark S. Plank,
Director, Engineering and Environmental Staff, USDA/Rural Development/
Utilities Programs.
 [FR Doc. E8-5602 Filed 3-19-08; 8:45 am]
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